Folding step-ladder.



L. J. M UEH R. FOLDING STEP LADDER. APPLIOA IION FILED 001-22, 1909 979,988, Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

W/WIESSES INVENTOR.

. LAWRENCE J. MUEHR, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

FOLDING STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Application filed October 22, 1909. Serial No. 524,053.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE J. MUEHR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates 'to improvements in folding step-ladders.

The object of my invention is to provide a step ladder of this character which can be folded into a small compact form for storing, and when open forms a durable rigid ladder which will not accidentally collapse.

Another object of my invention is to provide a more simple, cheap and effective ladder of this character.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my step-ladder in its extended position ready for use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the ladder in a folded position. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the locking device and brace for the ladder.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 represents the step portion of my improved lad der which is constructed in the usual manner having the top 2 rigidly secured thereto, and to which is pivotally connected at 3 the usual brace a. In my invention the step portion 1 is made in two sections and hinged at a point midway its length and the brace 1 is likewise made in two sections hinged midway its length which I will now proceed to describe and the manner of hinging and holding the same in the extended position being my invention.

My invent-ion consists in dividing the ladder and brace midway their length into two sections which are connected by thehinges 7 and 8 on one side and the hinges 9 and 10 on the other side, the hinges being made precisely alike only there being a right and left hinge. These hinges are composed of fiat metal plates adapted to be screwed or -riveted to the outer faces of the ladder and brace. The outer adjacent corners of these hinges are provided with outwardly extending cars 11 'and 12 extending out beyond the edge of the brace or ladder and are pivoted together whereby the lower section 13 of the ladder may be swung flat against the upper section, and the lower section 14 of the brace may likewise be swung against the upper section thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The plates forming the hinges carried by the upper sections of the'ladder and braces have pivoted thereto the levers 16 and 17,

which are pivoted together at their inner ends at 18, and are adapted to swing upward as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawfingers 21 and 22. The lugs 19 and 20 abut as shown in Fig. l and the fingers are adapt-- ed when the levers are swung downwardly to encircle the said lugs and firmly hold the hinged sections of the ladder and brace in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. When the levers 1 6 and 17 are in this position the pivot 18 is below a horizontal line with the pivotal connections of the levers with the plates. By this structure it will be seen that any tendency of the ladder to fold would cause the fingers to hug more tightly and force the lugs 19 and 20 together. This forms practically a rigid ladder with no possibility of it folding when in use, yet at the same time allowing for the ready folding of the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A step ladder comprising a ladder section and a brace section pivotally connected, each divided into an upper and lower section, the lower section adapted to fold outward upon the upper section and pivoted levers locking the upper and lower sections together and holding the ladder and brace in their separated position.

2. A step ladder comprising a ladder and brace section pivotally connected to each other and formed of pivoted sections, and pivoted levers locking the upper and lower sections together and holding the ladder and brace in their separated position.

3. A step ladder, comprising a ladder and brace section pivotally connected to each other and formed of pivoted sections, abutting lugs carried by the sections, and pivoted levers adapted to encircle said lugs and hold them together.

4. A step ladder comprising a ladder and brace section pivoted together and each formed of two pivoted sections, means for locking the upper and lower sections of the ladder and brace sections together, and means carried by the locking means for holding the ladder and brace sections in their separated position.

5. A step ladder comprising a ladder section and brace section pivotally connected at their upper ends, each section divided into upper and lower portions, plates carried by the abutting ends of said sections and having outwardly extending ears pivoted together, lugs carried by the inner end of the plates and abutting levers pivoted to the plates of the upper sections and having downwardly curved fingers adapted to embrace the lugs and clamp them together and the inner ends of said levers pivoted together.

6. A step ladder comprising an upper and lower section pivoted together and foldable one section upon the other, a brace for said ladder, and levers connecting the brace and ladder and locking the two sections of the ladder together.

7. A step ladder comprising a ladder section and brace section pivotally connected at their upper ends, each section divided into upper and lower portions, plates carried by the abutting ends of said sections and having outwardly extending ears pivoted together, lugs carried by the inner ends of the plates and having curved inner faces and abutting levers pivoted to the plates of the upper sections and having downwardly curved fingers corresponding to the curve of the lugs and adapted to embrace the lugs and clamp them together and the inner ends of said levers pivoted together.

8. A steplad'der comprising a ladder and brace sections pivotally connected to each other and formed of pivoted sections, and levers pivotally connecting the ladder and brace and adapted to lock the upper and lower sections together and hold the ladder in its separated position.

9. A step ladder comprising a ladder section and brace sections pivotally connected at their upper ends, each section divided into upper and lower portions, plates carried by the abutting ends of said sections and having outwardly extending ears pivoted together, lugs carried by the inner end of the plates and abutting and having curved inner faces and levers pivoted to the plates of the upper sections and having downwardly curved fingers corresponding to the curve of the lugs and adapted to embrace the lugs and clamp them together.

10. A step ladder comprising a ladder section and brace sections pivotally connected at their upper ends, each section divided into upper and lower portions, plates carried by the abutting ends of said sections and piv- 'oted together, laterally extending lugs car ried by the edges of the plates and abutting and having curved inner faces and levers pivoted together and to the plates of the upper sections and having downwardly curved fingers corresponding to the curve of the lugs and adapted to embrace the lugs and clamp them together.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LAWRENCE J. MUEHR. lVitnesses NORMAN E. LA Mono, S. Gno. STEVENS. 

